Activism and Events – Page 15 – Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

DC: Women Speak Out on “Soraya M.” Film, Oppression of Women by Religious Supremacists, Misogynists

On Saturday, June 20, a public awareness event was held in the busy nightlife center of Washington DC’s Georgetown to inform the public about the upcoming release of the film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” and to make them aware of the broader war on women by religious extremists and misogynists. The film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” is scheduled to premiere across the country – mostly on Friday, June 26 – and tells the true story of an Iranian woman who was stoned to death by religious extremists.

DC Women Denise Lee and Faith McDonnell Speak Out for Women's Rights — DC area women speak out for Women's Rights

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) organized this public awareness event in the heart of Washington DC’s Georgetown to help make the public aware of the DC theater showings of the film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” to be released in most locations on June 26, as well as other showings around the country. Moreover, R.E.A.L. sought to expand public awareness of the global war on women by supremacists. in the form of stonings, honor killings, mutilations, oppression, and abuse of women.

We had signs and placards on these subjects; they passed out fliers about the upcoming film locations in DC and the larger war on women, passed out brochures about the film, and handed out business cards with our message of love and support for women’s universal human rights – everywhere.

R.E.A.L. estimated that several thousands of people passed by its public awareness event on the Georgetown street corner of Wisconsin and M Streets NW, and that materials were handed out to 600 individuals about the film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” and the ongoing struggle for women’s human rights. With the public awareness event beginning at 6 PM ET, numerous visitors also saw the signs and placards (that were frequently held up high in the air) on this subject during the summer daily savings time, including busloads of visitors.

Denise Lee reaching out to DC Public on Extremist War on Women and Film "The Stoning of Soraya M." — Reaching out to DC public on War on Women and Film "The Stoning of Soraya M."

Public Awareness Event in DC’s Georgetown on “The Stoning of Soraya M.”

We spoke to the passers-by and crowd of visitors in Georgetown about how important the film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” is to see, to get a sense of what has been happening to women in Iran and around the world. We spoke to passers-by on need to defend universal human rights for women around the world, and how vital it is for Americans to recognize that this threat to women’s human rights are not just in foreign nations, but also here in the United States as well. We spoke to the global war on women by religious extremists who use such institutionalized ideologies to oppress, abuse, mutilate, and murder women. In addition to the stoning and murder of women by supremacists in Iran, we spoke to recent so-called “honor killings” in Russia’s Chechnya and how the Chechen president has publicly stated that women deserve to die for so-called “loose morals.” Imm also spoke to the global femicide against women by supremacists using such “honor killings” in America’s New York, Georgia, Texas, Cleveland, Indiana, in Canada, in UK, in Europe, in Pakistan, in Africa, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Jordan, in Lebanon, in Syria, in India, in Gaza, in West Bank, in Israel, and in Asia. Imm stated that this continuing threat to women’s universal human rights is nothing less than a global “war on women” by supremacists.

In the Washington DC area, the film “The Stoning of Soraya M.” will be showing at the Washington DC E Street Cinema, Bethesda Row Cinema, and Shirlington 7 theater. More details about such locations are listed below.

http://www.thestoning.com/theaters/

WASHINGTON DC
Washington, DC
E Street Cinema
6/26/09
555 11th St NW
Washington, DC 20004
202-452-7672
Get Directions
— this is the site a block away from FBI HQ, and a few blocks from Metro Center metro stop

Get Directions

MARYLAND
Bethesda, MD
Bethesda Row Cinema
6/26/09
7235 Woodmont Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-7273
Get Directions
— this is close to a large parking lot and about 6 blocks from the Bethesda metro stop

Parking:
In the immediate vicinity of the Bethesda Row Cinema there are three major parking lots. There are two outdoor ones across the street from the theatre and one large parking garage between Woodmont and Arlington on Bethesda Avenue. The small lots have very few 9-hour to 15-hour meters, and they fill up very quickly. These meters are silver, as opposed to the blue, dark gray and copper ones which range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. In the large parking garage between Woodmont and Arlington the first two levels (G-1 and 1) have 2-hour meters, while levels 2 through 5 have 15-hour meters. Parking is free in the lots on Saturday and Sunday, while street parking is free Sunday only. Parking Information

Metro & Trolley:
The theatre is minutes by foot from the Bethesda Metro station (on the Woodmont side), off the Red line. The Bethesda 8 trolley can be boarded at the Metro station; it takes riders on a scenic tour of downtown Bethesda before dropping them off directly across the street from the theatre. The trolley is free of charge.

VIRGINIA
Shirlington 7
2772 South Randolph St.
Arlington, VA 22206
Showtimes: 1-888-AMC-4FUN (1-888-262-4386)
Get Directions

June 26 – DC Area Theaters Showing “The Stoning of Soraya M.”

WASHINGTON DC
Washington, DC
E Street Cinema
6/26/09
555 11th St NW
Washington, DC 20004
202-452-7672
Get Directions
— this is the site a block away from FBI HQ, and a few blocks from Metro Center metro stop

MARYLAND
Bethesda, MD
Bethesda Row Cinema
6/26/09
7235 Woodmont Ave
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-7273
Get Directions
— this is close to a large parking lot and about 6 blocks from the Bethesda metro stop

Parking:
In the immediate vicinity of the Bethesda Row Cinema there are three major parking lots. There are two outdoor ones across the street from the theatre and one large parking garage between Woodmont and Arlington on Bethesda Avenue. The small lots have very few 9-hour to 15-hour meters, and they fill up very quickly. These meters are silver, as opposed to the blue, dark gray and copper ones which range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. In the large parking garage between Woodmont and Arlington the first two levels (G-1 and 1) have 2-hour meters, while levels 2 through 5 have 15-hour meters. Parking is free in the lots on Saturday and Sunday, while street parking is free Sunday only. Parking Information

Metro & Trolley:
The theatre is minutes by foot from the Bethesda Metro station (on the Woodmont side), off the Red line. The Bethesda 8 trolley can be boarded at the Metro station; it takes riders on a scenic tour of downtown Bethesda before dropping them off directly across the street from the theatre. The trolley is free of charge.

VIRGINIA
Shirlington 7
2772 South Randolph St.
Arlington, VA 22206
Showtimes: 1-888-AMC-4FUN (1-888-262-4386)
Get Directions

Sign Petition: Save Women Now

Please sign the Save Women Now Petition – demanding that U.S. government and United Nations representatives recognize the ideology of extremism as a source of oppression and violence to women in America and around the world

See also our article demanding our leaders to “Save Women Now”

Link this petition to your website!

Sign petition for action to defy extremism’s global war on women

If you want to add an IFrame counter link on petition signatures:
<iframe width=’102′ height=’36’ src=’http://www.petitiononline.com/signatures.php?petition=savenow’ frameborder=’0′ scrolling=’no’></iframe>

June 20, 2009: R.E.A.L. Protests McLean, Virginia Conference with VDARE Speaker Peter Brimelow

On June 19 and 20 in McLean, Virginia, supporters of Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) protested Ritz-Carlton’s hosting of a speaker from the “white nationalist” web site VDARE, Peter Brimelow. VDARE is listed as a “white nationalist” hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an identity that VDARE states that it is “proud” to hold.

R.E.A.L.'s Jeffrey Imm urges passing motorists to let VDARE know how they feel about racism

VDARE’s Peter Brimelow was speaking at the Ritz-Carlton as part of a conference by an organization called “The American Cause.” R.E.A.L. contacted the Ritz-Carlton McLean, VA management in advance by telephone, email, and fax – to alert them to Mr. Brimelow’s planned speaking, his background, and his views that accused Holocaust Memorial Museum shooter Von Brunn was “an intelligent man.” The Ritz-Carlton management chose to ignore this advance warning. In addition, R.E.A.L. contacted the Ritz-Carlton management the day of our Saturday June 20 protest and asked the Ritz if it would demonstrate its concern about racism by allowing us to protest in front of the Ritz-Carlton regarding VDARE’s racism; once again the Ritz-Carlton managment declined.

R.E.A.L. challenges VDARE's support for white separatism and "white nationalism" as racist

The conference’s speakers also included Hazleton, Pennsylvania Mayor Louis Barletta , whose office R.E.A.L. contacted in advance to warn him of “The American Cause” hosting of VDARE’s Peter Brimelow as a co-speaker. The Hazleton mayor’s office declined to respond, and those that R.E.A.L. contacted in Hazleton city government did not reply.

Peter Brimelow’s VDARE website currently publishes articles defending “white nationalism,” as well as praising a “white separatist” leader as someone who once would have been “called an American patriot.” Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) previously wrote about this meeting on June 17 where we summarized the background of VDARE. In addition, we pointed out how VDARE’s Peter Brimelow wrote on June 11, 2009 that accused Holocaust Memorial Museum shooter Von Brunn was “an intelligent man” – the day after his alleged shooting and murder on June 10 of black security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns.

R.E.A.L. challenges VDARE's Peter Brimelow that accused Holocaust Memorial shooter Von Brunn is an "intelligent man"

— Peter Brimelow’s June 11 comments after Holocaust Memorial Museum guard Stephen Tyrone Johns was shot:
— June 11, 2009: VDARE’s Peter Brimelow describes accused Holocaust Memorial Museum shooter Von Brunn as “an intelligent man”

— History of Peter Brimelow’s “white nationalist” background
— VDARE’s Brimelow states that he is proud of racial articles on “white nationalism” published on VDARE
— According to VDARE, “white separatist” Jared Taylor once would have been “called an American patriot”

— Sampling of VDARE articles on race
—- Search on “white”
—- Search on “black”
—- Search on “race”
—- Search on “racial”
—- VDARE’s Sailer articles
—- VDARE’s Taylor articles
—- VDARE’s recent Brimelow article on “half-blood” individuals
—- Other VDARE Brimelow writings
—- SPLC: “Keeping America White” regarding Brimelow and VDARE
—- SPLC: VDARE as “white nationalist” group

See more on Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)’s news reports and activism challenging racial supremacism at:
https://www.realcourage.org/category/racial-supremacism/

“White Nationalist” Web Site VDARE Promoting McLean, Virginia Conference on June 20

— VDARE: “Peter Brimelow to speak at The American Cause’s ‘Building A New Majority Conference’ in McLean, VA, June 20, details here”
— Links to “The American Cause” Registration where Patrick Buchanan is speaking, which also lists Peter Brimelow
— Being held June 20 8:30 AM-6:00 PM
— At: The Ritz Carlton, 1700 Tysons Boulevard, McLean, VA 22102
— June 11, 2009: VDARE’s Peter Brimelow describes Holocaust Museum shooter Von Brunn as “an intelligent man”

North Korea: Friends of Euna Lee and Laura Ling’s Petition and Efforts for Their Freedom

Please also see and sign another petition calling for the freedom of

Euna Lee and Laura Ling, U.S. journalists held in North Korea

“Join our group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=60755553149&ref=ts
Follow on Twitter: @LiberateLaura
Blog: http://liberatelaura.wordpress.com/

North Korea: Petition Calling for Freedom of Euna Lee and Laura Ling After Sentence of 12 Years in NK “Labor” Camp

Join R.E.A.L. today in condemning the actions of the North Korean Communist government in sentencing U.S. journalists to 12 years in prison in North Korea “labor” camps – and sign our petition calling for U.S. and international action against North Korea to free these journalists!

See our petition at:
http://www.petitiononline.com/leeling1/

“We call for the United States government, international leaders, and the United Nations leaders and representatives to condemn and to act on the oppression of freedom of the press by Communist North Korea. We condemn North Korea’s actions in sentencing U.S. reporters Euna Lee and Laura Ling to 12 years in a North Korean ‘labor’ camp, and we demand that the United States government, international leaders, and the United Nations take every action to gain Euna Lee’s and Laura Ling’s release from the North Korean ‘labor’ camp where they have been sentenced to be imprisoned. We view North Korea’s actions against Euna Lee and Laura Ling as a gross violation of the universal human rights of liberty and freedom of the press, and we demand our national and international representatives act to gain their freedom NOW!”

DC Israel Embassy – R.E.A.L. Challenges HAMAS, ANSWER, and MAS

On June 6, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (REAL) held a rally in support of universal human rights and challenging HAMAS, ANSWER, and MAS nearby the Israel embassy in Washington DC. REAL was holding this rally as a counterprotest to a rally primarily led by ANSWER, which included MAS and other groups, that sought public sympathy for the actions by HAMAS group resulting in bloodshed in Gaza, claiming Israel’s actions were only on “the pretext of combating terrorism.” Jeffrey Imm led the REAL rally, and Brian Becker led the ANSWER rally.

Access to International Drive and International Place streets (where the embassies are located) was blocked by the police and the U.S. Secret Service, which resulted in all of the protesting groups being located on nearby Van Ness Drive NW. The rally led by ANSWER and MAS drew 50 to 100 participants, lining Van Ness Drive. The REAL rally counterprotest addressed these organizations and their ideological support.

With their greater number of attendees, ANSWER members initially tried to bully and intimidate the REAL rally. REAL supporters were violently attacked, which required the intervention of police for protection. Prior to both rallies beginning, ANSWER members tried to grab REAL’s sign in support of Universal Human Rights and push them off a public street corner; this included an ANSWER leader pushing one of the REAL rally attendees. After our rally was started, at the request of the U.S. Secret Service, REAL moved about 20 feet away from the ANSWER rally to prevent violent activity by that rally’s attendees.

REAL Challenges HAMAS’ War on Humanity

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (REAL)’s Jeffrey Imm spoke out against the extremist HAMAS terrorist organization as the root source of continuing violence in Gaza. Imm challenged those who would glorify HAMAS to recognize that HAMAS’ refusal to respect the human rights and dignity of others is a key source of the violence in Gaza today. Imm pointed to the long history of HAMAS’ suicide bombings, HAMAS’ use of human shields in Gaza, and of HAMAS as a terrorist organization.

R.E.A.L.'s Jeffrey Imm challenges HAMAS' oppression and terrorist activities leading to bloodshed in Gaza — R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm challenges HAMAS’ oppression and terrorist activities leading to bloodshed in Gaza

In addition to HAMAS’ history of oppression of Muslims through its terrorism and its use of human shields, Imm also pointed out HAMAS’ history of denying other Muslims’ human rights, including HAMAS’ efforts to ban public prayer in Gaza, and HAMAS’ history of violence against other Muslims, including HAMAS’ killing of Palestinian Authority police. According to Imm, the ideology of extremism promoted by HAMAS not only endangers non-Muslims, it also continues to endanger and take the lives of other Muslims. Imm stated that such a policy of extremism also treats women as second-class human beings, as was seen in the recent killings of Muslim women by extremists in Gaza in what they call “honor killings.”

Imm also spoke out on the irony on this 65th anniversary of D-Day (June 6, 1944), when American troops went to fight Adolf Hitler, that groups should be trying to gain public sympathy for violence that is the result of a HAMAS organization whose charter (Article 32) embraces the same anti-semitic screed “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” that Adolf Hitler promoted, and the same HAMAS organization whose leaders have stated that Holocaust was either “false” or “exaggerated.” Imm stated that as we remember those who fought and died to fight for liberty, we also must have the courage to defend the liberty and human rights that they fought for – a liberty that would be denied by extremism.

REAL Challenges ANSWER’s Support for Communist Totalitarianism

REAL’s Imm stated that it was also ironic that the ANSWER organization was leading the protest to garner sympathy for the efforts of HAMAS in Gaza, given that ANSWER’s leaders have a history of supporting Communist totalitarianism. Imm pointed out that ANSWER currently lists the Marxist organization “Party for Socialism and Liberation” as part of its Steering Committee on its home page web site. Moreover, Imm pointed out that ANSWER leaders have a history of supporting Communist totalitarian China and North Korea. While ANSWER leaders spoke, Imm pointed out ANSWER leaders’ long history of supporting Communism, Imm offered ANSWER protesters a copy of ANSWER leaders’ writings from the Communist Worker’s World.

R.E.A.L.'s Jeffrey Imm challenges A.N.S.W.E.R. leaders and Steering Committee members support of Communism — R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm challenges A.N.S.W.E.R. leaders and Steering Committee members support of Communism

Given ANSWER’s tolerance of Communist organizations and leaders directing ANSWER, Imm stated that ANSWER really wasn’t against “war.” Imm pointed out that ANSWER was perfectly willing to ignore the Communist Chinese government’s war on Chinese people with 1,000 concentration camps holding 6.8 million Chinese, and that ANSWER was perfectly willing to ignore the Communist North Korea war on Korean people with an estimated 2-3 million starved to death and many in North Korea’s own concentration camps. Given ANSWER’s acceptance of this Communist war on human rights, Imm challenged ANSWER’s legitimacy as any type of “anti-war” organization.

REAL Challenges MAS’ Worldview Based on the Muslim Brotherhood’s Extremism

REAL’s Imm also discussed the Muslim American Society (MAS) Freedom Foundation’s letter to the Washington Post stating their “worldview” was based on the views of the Muslim Brotherhood. Imm pointed out that Muslim Brotherhood had an extremist worldview that called for an Islamic caliphate (“Khilafa”) — the same type of repressive caliphate that Barack Obama stated in August 2007 was the goal of America’s enemies. Imm stated that this goal of the Muslim Brotherhood was embodied in their motto “Jihad is our way.” Imm stated that the Muslim American Society’s support for such Muslim Brotherhood extremism was against universal human rights. Imm pointed out that as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once recognized the challenge of “white supremacism,” so today we must recognize the challenge of other rationales of extremism as part of our commitment to universal human rights.

Moreover, Imm stated that while MAS supports extremist Sharia, those of us who support universal human rights support human freedom, equality, and liberty for all human beings.

R.E.A.L. Rally attendees publicize MAS’ documented statements that their worldview is based on the extremist Muslim Brotherhood

REAL Challenges Extremism’s Rejection of Universal Human Rights

Imm stated that the United States was a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and he pointed out how all Americans accept such universal, inalienable human rights for all people as part of our Declaration of Independence – as truths that we hold self-evident. Imm stated that while most of humanity supported universal human rights, those in support of totalitarianism and supremacism do not.

Imm pointed out how extremist nations have rejected the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, seeking instead to create their own extremist version of “human rights” in accordance with Sharia.

Imm explained how the extremist rejection of such universal human rights has led to oppression and violence, not only in Gaza, but around the world.

Imm stated that extremist Sharia was being used to justify an extremist “war on women” involving degrading punishments, mutilations, treating women as less than human beings, and extremist “honor killings” of women around the world . Moreover, Imm pointed out the use of extremist violence against Gay human beings as well, with recent and horrific reports of torture, physical mutilation, and murder of gay men in Iraq by extremist gangs.

Imm stated that REAL’s support for universal human rights rejects such extremist atrocities and demands universal human rights for all human beings. Imm concluded that such universal human rights must include freedom from such extremist killings, mutilation, and oppression.

Imm stated that peace in Gaza and around the world begins with a support for humanity’s universal human rights, which extremists and their supporters consistently reject.

DC: China Embassy – Responsible for Equality And Liberty Challenges Chinese Govt

On the afternoon of June 4, 2009, the founder of the Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) organization held a protest demonstration outside of the Communist Chinese embassy in Washington DC. R.E.A.L.’s Jeffrey Imm led this protest from 1 to 4 PM, in part during a driving rainstorm, as part of his way of honoring the memory of those who died in the June 4, 1989 Beijing massacre in the Communist Chinese government’s crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

Jeffrey Imm began the rally by offering the Communist Chinese embassy a copy of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Chinese language version), a report on the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, and a report on the May 31 Hong Kong protests – all printed in the Chinese language. The embassy refused to accept these.

Jeffrey Imm recounted the circumstances that led up to the June 4, 1989 Beijing massacre and called upon the Communist Chinese government to release the names of all those who were killed on June 4, 1989. He then read the names of those 195 known individuals who were killed in the massacre.

Imm addressed the humanitarian aspects of allowing families to publicly grieve and mourn for their loved ones. “Those who died on June 4, 1989 were all someone special. They were someone’s son or daughter. They were all loved and they came into the world as part of the miracle of human life. They were not only part of someone’s direct family, they were also all part of our shared family of humanity. And as members of our shared family of humanity, they all deserved our inalienable, universal human rights of equality, liberty, dignity, and life. Responsible for Equality And Liberty is here to remember them today, because we believe that their lives all were precious and important, we mourn them as members of our human family, and we vow not to let their deaths, their sacrifices, go in vain.”

Imm spoke to those watching and listening at the Communist Chinese embassy for three hours, imploring them to show dignity to those families that seek to mourn the loss of their loved ones. He asked how 73-year old Ding Zilin could be a threat to the Chinese government when she was recently prevented from speaking in remembrance of her dead teenage son who was killed in the Beijing massacre 20 years ago. He asked how 75-year old Sun Wenguang could be a threat to the Chinese government when he was recently bullied and manhandled by Chinese security police, having three ribs cracked, just because he sought to remember the death of former Chinese premiere Zhao Ziyang. He challenged the Chinese government to ask themselves if they are this afraid of just those who would remember the dead, what will they do when the people of China finally seek to reclaim their natural, inalienable human rights and dignity again?

Imm recounted the initial experiences of those he saw in the Washington DC area after the June 4, 1989 massacre, when people of all kinds flocked to the old Communist China embassy in protest:

Imm said: “I remember June 4, 1989. I will remember it all of my life. Like many others, I was compelled to do something about this horrific tragedy in China. The Chinese protesters for freedom in Tiananmen Square were killed just because they dared to call for the very freedoms inherent in the universal human rights that every one of us has as human beings. I had to leave my job and go to the Communist Chinese embassy in Washington DC. Such a martyring of those struggling for freedom was unacceptable. Many others shared this human outrage. No one had to tell us what to do. We didn’t need a web site and directions. We didn’t need an email listing of who to contact. We just needed to be responsible as human beings and do something ourselves.”

“We protested, we shouted, we prayed, and we rallied in front of the Communist Chinese embassy. People came from diverse professions, various political parties, and many identity groups. Our shared organization was the family of humanity. We huddled together on the Washington DC street corner by the embassy, listening for news from those who had radios. We stood there until it was dark and we stood there – defiant – responsible for equality and liberty – not because the people killed in Tiananmen Square were Chinese – but simply because they were fellow human beings.”

Imm stated that was the same reason why he was at the Communist Chinese embassy on June 4, 2009. “We don’t need a special reason or need to be members of a special group. We protest the Communist Chinese government’s killing of those who called for democracy on June 4, 1989 for the simple reason that they are part of our family too — our shared family of humanity that is seeking its inalienable, natural, and universal human rights.”

Imm pointed out the sacrifices made by those who died on June 4, 1989, both sacrificing their lives and the burden their families have carried these 20 years with their loss. He stated that those responsible for equality and liberty realize that sacrifice is a part of being responsible. He stated that many can go to where it is convenient and comfortable and mouth platitudes about freedom, but those who truly assume their responsibility for equality and liberty recognize that such responsibility means sacrifice. Imm addressed the story of the heroic sacrifices of Mr. Fang Zheng who lost his legs in Tiananmen Square and Dr. Wang Dan who was imprisoned for many years for his participation in the Tiananmen Square democracy movement. They and many others are examples of the profiles of what it means to be responsible for universal human rights, Imm stated. Imm told the Communist Chinese government that their sacrifice was honorable and should be commemorated by the Chinese people as heroes in seeking the universal human rights that all human beings deserve.

In addition, Imm read passages from the book “Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang” to those listening in the Communist Chinese embassy. He read the May 18, 1989 letter from Zhao Ziyang to Deng Xioping calling for the government to reverse “the labeling and judgment made of them in the April 26 editorial, and acknowledgment of their actions as patriotic.” Imm called for the Communist Chinese government to recognize the patriotic nature of the Tiananmen Square protesters and remember their actions as heroes of the Chinese people. Furthermore, Imm also read from Chapter 5 of this book where Zhao Ziyang called for the creation of parliamentary democracy in China.

Imm also spoke in detail against the other abuses by the Communist Chinese government on its people. He asked if the Chinese government really believed that it could maintain its economic growth which was dependent on denying human liberty and using forced labor camps. He challenged the AEI think tank and others who have focused on the economic aspects of Communist China to ask themselves what other nation uses forced labor camps, such as the estimated 1,000 Laogai camps holding 6.8 millions prisoners, to help their “capitalist” activities? He challenged the AEI to ask them themselves if they would be as calmly addressing the economic prowess of Nazi Germany also using forced labor camps to improve its economic position in the world.

Imm addressed the issue of the attacks on human dignity in China as a violation of Chinese people’s human rights. He addressed the reports of forced abortions, the selling of human body parts, and denounced the practices of those selling corpses for the entertainment of those in New York City’s “Body… The Exhibition” and elsewhere. Moreover, Imm vowed to protest this practice of indignity against Chinese corpses in NYC in R.E.A.L.’s upcoming rallies in New York City planned for July 2009.

Imm asked the Communist Chinese government what it expected the results would be of its history of disrespect towards women, in part based on the practices of forced abortions, which has now led to gangs in China who kidnap women because they are so “scarce.” Imm asked the Communist Chinese government how such lack of dignity and respect for fellow Chinese human beings would impact the future of peace in China.

A group of five individuals led by a Canadian-Chinese man also appeared later in the afternoon at the embassy and held up hand written signs in protest at the Communist Chinese government’s actions regarding the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Imm concluded the protest by once again reading the names of the known victims of the June 4, 1989 Beijing massacre, and saying that on behalf of those who could not speak for themselves, he would continue to chant: “Long Live Democracy!” and “Free China Now!”

DC: Capitol Hill Rally Remembers Tiananmen Martyrs

On June 4, the Initiatives for China and other groups held a Washington DC rally on Capitol Hill remembering the Tiananmen and Beijing martyrs for freedom killed on June 4, 1989. At the Washington DC Capitol Hill rally, a number of individuals spoke on behalf of those continuing to seek liberty and democracy for the Chinese people, as well as remembering those who died in the June 4, 1989 Beijing massacre.

Former Tiananmen Square students and leaders recounted what happened 20 years ago, and they forcefully called for democracy and liberty for the people of China. Tiananmen Square leader Dr. Wang Dan spoke at this Capitol Hill rally. In addition, the heroic Mr. Fang Zheng, who lost both of his legs crushed by a Communist military tank in Tiananmen Square, also was present and honored at the Capitol Hill rally.

Tiananmen Square leader Dr. Wang Dan speaks at June 4, 2009 Capitol Hill rally for freedom

There were numerous attendees from the China Democracy Party organization, whose red and blue striped flags with a white star, dotted the West Lawn of Capitol Hill (China Democracy Party’s English website).

In addition, Dr. Lee Edwards of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation also spoke of his experiences seeking to challenge the Communist Chinese government on the issue of Tiananmen Square, as did several Congressional leaders. The China Support Network (CSN) blog also reported on a statement by U.S. Congressional Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Amnesty International also had a number of attendees at the rally, and had a speaker from their organization addressing the continuing problem in China.

Dr. Lee Edwards of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation speaks

On the Capitol Hill grounds, a replica of the “Goddess of Democracy” was on display in remembrance of the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and Beijing massacre.

Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)‘s Jeffrey Imm attended the rally on Capitol Hill prior to the R.E.A.L. protest outside the Communist Chinese embassy later that afternoon.

Jeffrey Imm of Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) attends June 4, 2009 Capitol Hill Rally Remembering Tiananmen Square

Per the Initiatives for China website, the 20th Anniversary Tiananmen sponsors, cosponsors, and participants:

“(Mainland) China New Democracy Party, (Outside Mainland China) Initiatives for China, Asian Human Rights Coalition, Uyghur American Conference, International Campaign for Tibet, Friends of the Falun Gong, Amnesty International, Pan Asian Human Rights Foundation, Allies of the Guard of Canadian Values, China Rights Network (Canada), June 4 Massacre Investigation, Democratic Team in Los Angeles, Federation for a Democratic China, Chinese Liberal Democratic Party, Society for Chinese Students and Scholars (Germany, Independent Federation of Chinese Students and Scholars (US), Sydney Workshop for Democratic China (AUS). Hong Kong Federation for a Democratic China, Asia Pacific Human Rights Foundation, Anti Political Persecution Alliance of China, Chinese Coalition for Citizens Rights, Chinese Democracy Promotive Society, Chinese Democracy Party USA Headquarters, China Democracy Forum (NY), Chinese Alliance for Democracy, The Overseas Chinese Coalition of Australia, China Social Democratic Party, Asian Pacific Human Rights Coalition, Chinese Constitutionalists Association.”

Other Images: